Pathophysiology CH.1
The nurse is attending a conference covering various perspectives and patterns of disease across the United States and the world. Why is this information important for nurses to know?
Diseases traverse continents and pose a threat to populations throughout the world.
An infant has a difficult time passing through the birth canal and the physician uses forceps to deliver the child. In the process, the facial nerve was damaged, resulting in a facial droop. Which condition does the nurse recognize this to be?
acquired defect
A client delivers a child born with an extra digit. The client states that she had the same thing when she was born. What term would the nurse document in the record regarding this defect?
Congenital condition
L. is an 18-year-old college student, presents to her primary care physician. She reports fatigue, recurrent headaches, and an unplanned weight loss of 8 lb. L. says she has been 'under a lot of stress' since the beginning of the school year. She reports that she eats nutritiously but she 'always feels hungry.' She adds that she has been thirsty a lot lately and that she has been urinating more frequently than usual. She denies using any medications and having allergies; her past medical history is significant for a 'really bad flu' approximately 6 months prior to this appointment. She has no surgical history.Lisa's laboratory results are as follows:• Sodium level: 134 mmol/L• Potassium level: 5.8 mmol/L• Chloride level: 118 mmol/L• Bicarbonate level: 15 mmol/L• Blood glucose level: 450 mg/dL• Urine: positive or large amount of glucose and ketonesHer vital signs are pulse 124 bpm, respiratory rate 24, blood pressure 110/60 mm Hg, and temperature 37°C.L. is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In teaching L. about the pathophysiology of her diagnosis, what outcome will the nurse expect?
L. can understand how her disease may progress if untreated.
L. is an 18-year-old college student, presents to her primary care physician. She reports fatigue, recurrent headaches, and an unplanned weight loss of 8 lb. L. says she has been 'under a lot of stress' since the beginning of the school year. She reports that she eats nutritiously but she 'always feels hungry.' She adds that she has been thirsty a lot lately and that she has been urinating more frequently than usual. She denies using any medications and having allergies; her past medical history is significant for a 'really bad flu' approximately 6 months prior to this appointment. She has no surgical history.Lisa's laboratory results are as follows:• Sodium level: 134 mmol/L• Potassium level: 5.8 mmol/L• Chloride level: 118 mmol/L• Bicarbonate level: 15 mmol/L• Blood glucose level: 450 mg/dL• Urine: positive or large amount of glucose and ketonesHer vital signs are pulse 124 bpm, respiratory rate 24, blood pressure 110/60 mm Hg, and temperature 37°C.How does pathophysiology influence the care of L.? Select all that apply.
The nurse will understand what clinical manifestations to look for., The nurse will know what additional questions to ask about symptoms., The nurse will be able to interpret meaning and implications of lab results. , The nurse can help treatment plans.
The nurse is educating a client who will be having a series of diagnostic tests. The clients asks the nurse, "What is the importance of me having all of these tests? I told the physician I know what is wrong with me!" What is the best response by the nurse?
The physician wants to validate what he believes the client problem is.
The nurse is performing an assessment on a client who states she fell and twisted her right ankle during a softball game. The nurse notes that the right ankle is edematous and will probably need to be x-rayed. What term does the nurse use to describe the changes that accompany this finding?
a sign
When the nurse is assisting with the diagnostic process for a client with an illness, what is a priority when compiling all of the data to have an accurate diagnosis? Select all that apply.
-A careful history -Detailed physical examination -Diagnostic tests
The nurse knows that understanding the etiologic factors of a disease is critical for healthcare providers to understand for what reason?
In order to prevent disease, it is important to understand the agents and factors causing disease and how these agents and factors affect the human organism and its organs systems.
The parents of a child with spina bifida ask what caused the condition. Which factor would the nurse identify as the most likely etiologic factor in the child's history?
Insufficient maternal folic acid intake
Which information is important for the nurse to understand about the basis of disease?
It affects single cells and cells of a specific tissue.
The patient overhears the pathologist talking with the primary care physician about 'morphologic changes of the disease process.' The patient asks the nurse what the term 'morphologic changes' means. What is the nurse's best response?
That term describes changes the body undergoes due to a disease.
Facility policies on wound dressing selection refer the nurse to a dressing algorithm. The nurse anticipates that the algorithm will include:
a step-by-step decision-making tree for dressing selection.
A nurse who has worked with ostomy clients for several years is adept at measuring and cutting the stoma wafer to the correct size for each client's stoma. This is an example of the nurse using:
clinical expertise
Researchers have designed a study where the health of a large group of recent newborns will be followed for several years. What type of study is this?
cohort
The nurse is educating a client who will be having a series of diagnostic tests. The clients asks the nurse, "What is the importance of me having all of these tests? I told the physician I know what is wrong with me!" What is the best response by the nurse?
primary prevention
